Legendary culture maker Pia Bluhm is retiring after 38 years!

Legendary culture maker Pia Bluhm is retiring after 38 years!

After 38 years of committed cultural work in Vellmar, Pia Bluhm is retiring. On May 1, 1987, she began her journey in youth and cultural work, where she quickly left her mark. The friendly and competent social worker and educator not only initiated courses for children and adults, but also set up a small adult education center. However, her greatest achievement remains the “Summer in the Park” cultural festival, founded together with Gerhard Klenner in 1995. As the HNA reports, Vanessa Bischoff will succeed Bluhm and take over the artistic direction of the festival.

With a colorful program that includes cabaret, comedy, music and variety shows, “Summer in the Park” has grown in popularity in recent years. “It's really fun to work with such a dedicated team,” explains Bluhm, who looks back on the challenges, including a hacked ticket system in 2018 and the damage caused by a storm in 2023. Nevertheless, the festival, which now lasts over two weeks and sells more than 10,000 tickets per season, has lost none of its appeal.

A life for culture

For her tireless efforts, Pia Bluhm was recently honored with a certificate of honor for art and culture, which was presented to her by Art and Culture Minister Timon Gremmels. Gremmels praised Bluhm's ability to keep local culture alive and her significant contribution to Hesse's cultural landscape. The certificate of honor has been awarded for achievements in all areas of art in Hesse since 1993, and the decision is made by the Hessian Minister for Science and Research, Art and Culture Science Hesse.

Manfred Ludewig, mayor of Vellmar, also praised Bluhm's years of contribution to the cultural development in the city. “We would like to thank Pia Bluhm for her valuable work and are excited to see how the new team of Vanessa Bischoff and Christine Höhmann will continue the tradition,” he said. Bluhm herself is grateful for the city's support and plans to record her memories in a book.

A new phase of life

In retirement, the committed cultural worker would like to attend Pilates courses and spend time with family and friends, among other things. “I am looking forward to this new phase of my life and to putting the experiences of the last decades on paper in the form of a book,” says Bluhm. Her legacy lives on through the festival and the many people she has inspired over the years.

Through Bluhm, the city of Vellmar has gained a valuable treasure in the cultural landscape. With it comes not only ideas and experiences, but also a very special piece of Vellmar's cultural history.